landmark

American  

[land-mahrk] / ˈlændˌmɑrk /

noun

1. a prominent or conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide, especially to ships at sea or to travelers on a road; a distinguishing landscape feature marking a site or location.

   The post office served as a landmark for locating the street to turn down.

2. something used to mark the boundary of land.

3. a building or other place that is of outstanding historical, aesthetic, or cultural importance, often declared as such and given a special status landmark designation, ordaining its preservation, by some authorizing organization.

4. a significant or historic event, juncture, achievement, etc..

   The court decision stands as a landmark in constitutional law.

   Synonyms:

   benchmark, watershed, milestone

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verb (used with object)

1. to declare (a building, site, etc.) a landmark.

   a movement to landmark New York's older theaters.

landmark British  

/ ˈlændˌmɑːk /

noun

1. a prominent or well-known object in or feature of a particular landscape

2. an important or unique decision, event, fact, discovery, etc

3. a boundary marker or signpost

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Other Word Forms

• unlandmarked adjective

Etymology

Origin of landmark

before 1000; Middle English; Old English landmearc. See land, mark ¹

Example Sentences

Critics called it "unmissable", "a brilliant snapshot of black British culture" and "a landmark moment for UK music".

From BBC

In a thoroughly miserable lap of Australia and with some ropey cricket played by both sides, the most memorable moment was Joe Root's landmark century on the opening day of the second Test.

From BBC

However, he did forecast the world's second-biggest economy would reach the landmark size of $20tn this year, and said that China is "ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development".

From BBC

Carney late last year signed a landmark deal with Alberta in which he promised support for a new pipeline, subject to certain conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal

President Prabowo Subianto said on Wednesday that Indonesia's rice production met all domestic demand, hailing a landmark achievement for food security -- one of his key campaign promises.

From Barron's

Related Words

• marker
• memorial
• milestone
• monument
• museum
• tree